Collapsible cosmetic and all-purpose utility box



M. BAUERNFREUND ET AL 2,485,028

Oct. 18, 1949.

I COLLAPSIBLE COSMETIC AND ALL-PURPdSE UTILITY BOX Filed June 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor w m M A m. 9 f mm E F 5 M W QM I and Oct. 18, 1949.

M. BAUERNFREUND ET AL ,485,028

COLLAPSIBLE COSMETIC AND ALL-PURPOSE UTILITY BOX 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25,- 1947 F ig. 5.

Inventor Max Bauemfreund Jacob Frei m By 22 a Attorneys Fig. 7.

Patented Oct. 18, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE COSMETIC AND ALL-PURPOSE. UTILITY BOX Max Bauernfreund and Jacob Frei, New York, N. Y.

Application June 25, 1947, Serial No. 756,848

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to novel and useful improvements in utility boxes, particularly those adapted to be reduced in size for storage and traveling purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide a collapsible utility box characterized by means foldable in nature, for dividing compartments therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an entirely non-metallic utility box having means for covering all of the components utilized therewith, this means being preferably a fabric which is utilized for the purpose of providing hinge joints throughout the device.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide means on a hinged closure for detachably engaging a latch keeper thereby retaining the said closure in the selected, closed position.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide an improved base means retained within a receptacle through utility of the fabric cover means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extremely simple, practical device of the character described which lends itself well to commercial manufacture and which is both attractive and appealing to the public.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty shall become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the body member showing the same in a partially folded position, utilized in conjunction with this invention;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the body member and base member utilized in the present invention, showing the same in perspective;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the foldable partition means utilized in conjunction with the body member of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the preferred form of the invention, portions being broken away in section to illustrate details of construction;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 5 and taken substantially on the line 6-6 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the detail of construction shown in Figure 6 and taken substantially on the line 1-! thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of the fabric cover means on a selected portion of the device, and;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the device, showing the same in the completely folded form.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred-embodiment of the present invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements thereof.

This invention has been conceived and developed to provide a device for retaining various and sundry articles such as cosmetics, coiffure treating apparatus, and the like. It is one of the prime purposes of the present invention to provide a completely foldable or collapsible device and further the entire device is composed of materials of construction excluding metal, plastic and other conventional hingedly operative device manufacturing materials. It will be noted that all of the hinges used in conjunction with this invention are composed entirely of selected portions of fabric and rows of stitching.

A base plate I0 is composed of a semi-rigid interior member l2, such as cardboard and the like, and is covered with a fabric l4. Suitable stitches are provided around the marginal edges of said cover M for the obvious purpose of retaining the said cover on the interior member 12.

A body member I6 is formed of pairs of walls l8 and 20, respectively. The said walls 2!! are creased transversely at about the center thereof thereby defining segments 22 and 24, respectively. A fabric cover is placed over all of the said walls I8 and 20 while rows of stitching are provided at the junction points of the said walls. This, of course, provides a hinge "connection whereby the said walls may be mutually foldable. (See Figure 2.) Also, the said segments 22 and 24 are foldable in nature due to the row of stitching pertinent thereto.

A closure 26 is hinged in a similar manner to the upper portion of a selected wall IS in the said body member. This closure is, of course, covered with fabric as described in connection with the walls and base.

The fabric cover extends substantially perpendicularto the lower portions of all of the said walls thereby forming a ledge 28 around the bottom of the said body member. The said base member ID seats upon this ledge 28 and serves a .dual purpose. The first and obvious purpose is to provide a base for the utility box and the second purpose is to retain the body member in the operative, open position.

Partition means is detachably received in the said body member I6. This partition means is Figure 9.

3 in itself foldable in nature and may be seen particularly well in Figure 4. Here there is disclosed a plurality of elements or partitions 32 having a fabric cover 34 thereon. Common means is provided at the terminal portions of each of said partitions for mutually folding the said partitions. portions of fabric having suitable nows of stitches extending therethrough. This construction may be seen at 36 in Figure '7.

It is readily apparent that the partition means simply seats within the said body -mem'ber H 6, resting on the base l0.

Latch means is provided on the saidmlosure 1,6 for the purpose of retaining the same in the selected, closed position. This latch means is preferably a flexible member "orcord "38 extending around the marginal edges of the saidmclosure 26 and having a loop 49 extending therefrom. This loop is detachably engageablexwith asuitable protuberance or. button 4.2 which issewe'd or otherwise secured to. aselected body member wall.

It will be noted that-the present invention is capable of being completely folded as seen in Often necessity and desirability of such a'construction are manifest. Particularly in cramped or crowded: quarters where at certain times'there is simply no need for such adevice and the same ;is simply folded away for storage 'untilutility ofthezsame is again desired. Then, great demand for a device of this nature arises in transporting certain articles from one Jdwelling to another as, for example, during'summer vacation or other vacation times, when a collapsible utility box may be taken along, whereas theconventional stationary type would be left behind due to usurpation of spacein traveling.

Due'to the extreme simplicity achieved'by"the present invention, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary for a complete understanding of the operation and structure thereof. However, it is apparent that variouschanges including variationsas to size andshape-may he made .herein without departing from thespirit .of the nation and arrangement ofiparts'may-ibe resorted to without departing from the .;spirit :andscope of the invention as claimed.

This common means is again- Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A collapsible utility box comprising a body member including walls and having a fabric cover, parts of said cover forming means for hingedly attaching together said walls, hinge means interposed in some of said walls, said last mentioned means=compr-ising a portion of said ifabric cover,

a portion of said cover extending substantially normal to said walls forming a seat, a base member detachably carried by said seat and said walls,

aa-aclosunepf abricFhingedly securing said closure to theupper edge of one of said walls, latch means securedtossaid closure and detachably engageable *with one of the walls of said body member, said last mentioned means comprising a flexible member-extendingaround the marginal edge of said closure, a loop in said flexible member and means on said one of said walls for detachably engaging .said loop.

. 2.. A collapsible utility boxcomprising ..a body ..member which includes substantially vertical walls, said walls having a fabric cover withparts of said .cover forming hinges attachin I together said .Walls, other parts .of .said .cover forming hinges intermediate .the -..ends .-.0f 'two opposed Walls, and other portions of said cover disposed along .the..lower edge ..of vleach .of said walls ex- .tending substantially,perpendicular .to said walls and forming v.a seat,.,a bottom. removablydisposed on said ..seat, partitionslmounted .on said bottom .andhavingtheir ends inlcontacting engagement with said walls, andaclosure hingedly connected along the upperedge lot-one ofsaid walls.

;MAX BAUERNFREUND. .JACOB EREI.

.REFERENCES CITED The-following ref erences are ;of record in the file :of: this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

